India launched a powerful airstrike campaign dubbed Operation Sindoor on Wednesday, striking nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack on Hindu tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir. At least 31 people were killed and dozens injured in the deadliest clash between the two nuclear-armed nations in over two decades.
The Indian military stated that its forces targeted “terrorist infrastructure” tied to militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. These sites, according to Indian officials, served as recruitment, training, and weapons storage facilities. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri defended the preemptive attack: “Intelligence and monitoring of Pakistan-based terror modules showed that further attacks against India were impending, therefore, it was necessary to take pre-emptive and precautionary strikes.”
Pakistan responded by accusing India of an “act of war,” claiming that Indian missiles struck civilian areas and that five Indian fighter jets were shot down in retaliation. “Pakistan has every right to give a robust response to this act of war imposed by India,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared, “and a strong response is indeed being given.”
Pakistani officials reported that the strikes hit locations in Muzaffarabad, Bahawalpur, Ahmedpur East, and Muridke—many of which lost power and suffered structural damage. A Pakistani military spokesman said two mosques were among the buildings destroyed, challenging India’s assertion that only militant targets were hit.
The United Nations and the United States called for calm. President Trump described the escalation as “a shame” and hoped it “ends quickly.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was “monitoring the situation between India and Pakistan closely” and emphasized the need for dialogue. Despite global appeals for restraint, both countries exchanged heavy artillery fire across the Line of Control in Kashmir.
Since a ceasefire was reaffirmed in 2021, direct Indian strikes inside Pakistani territory had been rare. Analysts noted the unprecedented scale of India’s operation. “Given the scale of the Indian strike, which was far greater than what we saw in 2019, we can expect a sizable Pakistani response,” said South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman.
India has not confirmed the loss of any aircraft. Local Indian sources said three jets crashed in Kashmir and Punjab, with pilots hospitalized. Meanwhile, Indian forces celebrated the operation, stating, “Justice is served. Jai Hind!”
